How many aroma types of Tieguanyin tea are there? This article helps you tell them apart

Tieguanyin is one of China's top ten famous teas. According to national standards, it can be divided into two major categories, namely the light-aroma type and the strong-aroma type. By market product, it can be further subdivided into light-aroma, charm-aroma, strong-aroma and aged-aroma. Among them, light-aroma Tieguanyin is further divided into the authentic-flavor type and the sour-aroma type according to different production techniques. Below, let us take a look at these aroma types of Tieguanyin tea together!

Light-aroma type

Light-aroma Tieguanyin is made by two methods: green-shaking and authentic pan-firing. In the green-shaking method, tea-making begins the morning after leaf picking based on the appearance of the leaves, while in the authentic pan-firing method, the leaves are pan-fired before 12 noon on the second day after picking. The finished tea has a dark green, glossy color, an elegant aroma and a mellow taste, but with a slight astringency. In addition, a distinct tea charm, good returning sweetness and a golden-yellow liquor color are the most prominent features of light-aroma Tieguanyin.

Sour-aroma type

Sour-aroma Tieguanyin can be subdivided into the returning-green and pulling-green methods according to different production times. The returning-green method generally involves pan-firing at about 5 p.m. on the second day after picking, while the pulling-green method generally involves pan-firing at about 10 p.m. on the second day after picking. The finished tea has a dark green color, a bold aroma, is relatively pure with tea charm, carries a sweet-and-sour taste, and the liquor color may be deep golden yellow.

Charm-aroma type

Charm-aroma Tieguanyin lies between light-aroma and strong-aroma, possessing the bright moistness of the light-aroma type while not losing the mellow depth of the strong-aroma type. The tea leaves are fully fermented, with a traditional authentic flavor, featuring the taste of "strong, charming, moist and distinctive", with a high fragrance, good returning sweetness and full charm. Its liquor color is clear and bright, yellow with green, like the early autumn of Jiangnan, fully displaying luxury and richness, and it has long been favored by a broad range of consumers.

Strong-aroma type

Traditional strong-aroma Tieguanyin has the medically recognized effects of warming the stomach, lowering blood pressure and blood lipids, and aiding weight loss. It is very suitable for friends who have many social engagements, an unreasonable diet structure, minor stomach and intestinal problems, high blood lipids and blood pressure, or who feel their body is gaining weight. After being stored for a long time and becoming aged tea, through further deep-processing procedures such as re-roasting and charcoal roasting, the taste and health benefits become even more pronounced.

Aged-aroma type

Aged-aroma Tieguanyin is an extension of strong-aroma Tieguanyin. Its raw materials are all selected from high-quality Tieguanyin products processed over the years with traditional production techniques. The product has the mellow richness of strong-aroma Tieguanyin and also the advantages of a unique aged aroma.